Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo got a reprieve on Friday after the High Court in Meru affirmed an earlier order barring the County Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment motion.
Guyo was impeached on Thursday after all 16 MCAs present endorsed the motion tabled by Sericho MCA Abubakar Godana.
Justice Heston Mbogo, in a virtual court, on Friday said a conservatory order issued on June 23 was still in force and any action by the Assembly was in contempt.
“The orders dated June 25, 2025 are still in force. Any acts by the respondents or any other party, in defiance of the court order, shall be null and void. The orders shall remain in force until they are set aside by the court,” Justice Mbogo said.
The governor filed a petition and obtained orders against the County Assembly of Isiolo, the Speaker and clerk on the impeachment motion dated June 18.
On Friday, Hassan’s lawyers Eric Theuri and Elias Mutuma filed a contempt of court application against the Speaker and the Clerk.
Justice Mbogo ordered the Speaker and the clerk to appear in court in person, on Monday next week to respond to the allegations of contempt of court.
This is after their legal counsel Ekuru Aukot, Paul Wafula, Alex Mbaya and Boniface Mwereru avoided to respond to whether the County Assembly had adhered to the court order.
The lawyers also sought to make an application for recusal of the judge and stay of proceedings.
“The respondents have a right to file an application for recusal and stay of proceedings only after answering the question of whether the order was obeyed,” Justice Mbogo said.
Mutuma asked the court to find the respondents in contempt accusing them of an attempt to exhaust the court’s time.
Justice Mbogo noted that while the respondents may seek recusal of the judge, active court orders must be obeyed.
“Recusal does not shield the respondents from obeying court orders,” Justice Mbogo said.
The judge warned that there was an attempt to drag the proceedings through several applications.
Following the impeachment of the Governor on Thursday, the County Assembly Speaker was expected to present the resolution to the Senate within two days.
Despite the existence of an order stopping the impeachment, the assembly impeached Governor Guyo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and violation of various laws and the Constitution.
Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) passed the motion to oust the embattled governor with 16 out of 18 present voting in favour of the impeachment motion, two abstaining, and no member opposing the motion.
Among the accusations levelled against him were the stalling of key development projects, failure to meet revenue targets, and an inflated executive structure that included the appointment of 36 advisors and 31 chief officers, despite Isiolo County receiving the third-lowest revenue allocation in the country.
Guyo was also faulted for issuing short-term two-year contracts to chief officers, which the Assembly claims created an “environment of fear and uncertainty.”
The motion further alleged that the governor failed to renew the contracts of 20 chief officers, opting instead to selectively renew five through a questionable process.
The governor had moved to court, accusing the Assembly and Speaker Mohamed Roba of violating due process, and sought access to the motion documents, which the court directed be furnished within 48 hours.
The Assembly, however, relocated proceedings from Isiolo to Nakuru and later to Machakos, amid reports of MCAs going into hiding ahead of the impeachment.
This political standoff follows weeks of tension within the county government, which also saw the controversial ouster of County Assembly Clerk Salad Boru Guracha.
Guracha had been suspended by the County Assembly Service Board for allegedly cancelling a public participation forum linked to the impeachment.
The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nyeri later reinstated him, pending the hearing of the matter.
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